A few years ago, I wrote an article for GhanaCelebrities.Com about Ghanaian radio and TV commentators, always talking about subjects they have no knowledge about. And thereby feeding listeners and viewers with rubbish as a result of their ignorance on a subject.
I just read the below from my friend-Shatta Molley and it captures my position then–it also shows that things have not changed.
I stopped listening to any Ghanaian conversational radio and stopped watching conversations on Ghanaian TV a while ago and I don’t think I will be making a come back anytime soon.
Look for experts on specific subjects to have conversations with. The Jack of all Trades and masters of all subjects are in fact, mostly ignorant local champions.
Ghanaian listeners and viewers are becoming smarter and the hogwash wouldn’t wash for many of them anymore.
Read what Shatta Molley wrote on Facebook
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George Quaye, I must say I was glued to my seat with my eyes and ears wide open as I promised you. I wanted to be educated on how musicians can get nominated for BET on your pundits show but unfortunately, I was disappointed because the contradictions were just too many.
First was Nii Ayi Tagoe’s submission. According to him the country with the most subscribers must obviously get more slot than any other country. Nii says that we have about 150,000 dstv subscribers in Ghana whilst countries like South Africa and Nigeria have about 9million subscribers. Just do that math my guy. If Nii Ayi’s assertion is what to go by then an award scheme which deals with numbers in terms of voting must always have the country with many subscribers winning.
How then did we manage to win the two( Sarkodie and Stonebouy won) if the numbers really play a role? Or the people rejected their own to vote for us?
Arnold also was of the view that collaborations with big artiste internationally even if it’s not a hit also plays a role in getting nominations to the BET. Really? I thought hit songs goes with numbers too as well? Is Stonebouy the only artiste who has had international collaboration in Ghana over the years? No. What about Okyeame Kwame, Manifest, Wiyala, Sarkodie as rightly mentioned by your good self George.
Can you please mention the international collaborations MZVEE had before getting nominations last year ? Or luckily for MZVEE the rules changed when it got to her turn so she was nominated through viewers choice.
Elorm Beanie and Arnold also said good compliment and endorsement also gets you nominations?
Well, let me credit you for asking him later on the show how that works because Chris Brown, the woman beater and a talented musician after his community service got nominated and won awards at the BET.
Arnold my brother, it is not true that Shatta Wale doesn’t want to do collaborations with Nigerian artiste even when he is contacted because he doesn’t want them to ride in his status to blow up. Don’t forget Wale has done collaborations with Patoranking(Romamtic) , Davido( Wind your waist) and the recent one with Burna Bouy( Hosaana)
Even his collaboration with the Jamaican,Jah Vinci was a hit not just in Ghana but all over the world.
Please oooo. If it’s about international appeal Mensa, Wonluv, Manifest and co should’ve been our best bet. What you do locally also counts so stop throwing dust into our eyes. How can you not know the people they contact yet you know what can earn you a nomination.
In supporting our own as you rightly suggested, it will take those board members who have publicly exhibited their hatred to some artiste to change their ways and then there will be peace because the fans are discerning now. They will have issues if their artist falls within a certain category to win an award yet the artist wasn’t nominated.
Secondly pay the musicians well when you bill them for shows so they can pay top brands to collaborate with them as well.
Tell Nii Ayi not to ever swear on your show again because I nearly switched off my TV just like he left the stadium during the Guinness eruption show at the Accra sports stadium because shatta said P**sy.
By Shatta Molley